Historical Figures

85. Sardar Patel included Lakshadweep in India

The Lakshadweep group is located away from the mainland of India and in the Arabian Sea. At the time of India's independence, these islands were part of the authority of the British Crown and were under the Madras Presidency. According to the Act of 15 August 1947, they were to be found in India, but a large number of Muslim population lived on these islands.

Due to this there was a fear that Pakistan would assert its authority over these islands or would try to establish authority. From the point of view of Sardar Patel, even the remotest part of India was not left. That's why he decided to send a contingent of Royal Indian Navy to Lakshadweep in time.

This detachment strengthened its position on the island and raised the Indian flag there. It was ensured that Pakistan could not try to take possession of these islands. Sardar Patel's guess was correct.

A few hours after the capture of Lakshadweep by the troops of the Royal Indian Navy, the ships of the Royal Pakistan Navy started appearing around Lakshadweep, but when they saw that the tricolor was already flying on the island, they did not take any action, Returned to Karachi.

If Patel had not had this far-sightedness, the map of India would undoubtedly not have been like today's map.